Don't lie! It's so hard and you know it!
We judge constantly. In truth, we judge others based on what and who we think they should be based on who we are.
Aren't we soooo special and perfect that we can point fingers at others as we ignore our own issues??? But seriously, isn't easier to find faults in others rather than come to terms with our own gook and actually do something about it?
Here's a great story:
I had a friend who was teaching a weight management class. This class would meet weekly and learn about healthy eating habits and adhere to a fairly strict low glycemic lifestyle. One particular woman in the class caved during the week and fessed up to eating Twinkies. My friend went ballistic and was all over her like white on rice! She shamed this 'yellow cream filled cake eating' yo yo dieter! She truly couldn't understand how someone could eat unhealthy processed food when claiming to want to lose body fat and inches! She couldn't identify with her because she herself "would never eat a Twinkie!" A statement like "If I were you, I would stick to the food plan outlined in the class" spilled from her mouth.
"If I were you...."
Isn't that funny? How often do we make that statement? How often do we think the other person should be US? Have the same thoughts and do the same things we're supposed to do? How sad that we can't see outside ourselves and notice the individual directly in front of us? More importantly have the awareness they're different and can't possibly think and do as we do. For most of us we only see a person based on WHO we are. And we rarely, if ever notice our own gook. But we're pros at pointing out someones shortcomings!
Well, for my friend, this Twinkie incident became her big AH-HA moment:
That evening she began to think about the woman ...how real and authentic she was... to be so honest and share with others her personal weakness. When in reality, she showed strength to be so vulnerable in hopes to receive the help to stay on course with healthy eating.Then my friend thought about herself with a major life altering epiphany: Her life consisted of one bad, unhealthy relationship after another. She would pick the same type of man and wondered why it ended poorly. Yet, she continued to do it over and over again. She claimed to want a healthy relationship but continued to date men who were as toxic and unhealthy as the Twinkie! The lightbulb went off...
"OMG!! I have my own TWINKIE issue!!"
Yes. Everyone has their Twinkie! Everyone has baggage. Everyone has something they're trying hide, identify or overcome. Most people are hurting from one thing or another...whether they are transparent about it or not. Whether they are trying to heal or trying to mask the hurt..but everyone has their Twinkie.
What's the moral of the story ?
Work to 'clean your own step' and try not to judge and point fingers at others.
Accept people for who they are.
Everyone is doing the best they can at this particular time. We need to cut people a break! Lighten up on them because we really don't know what they're going through. We don't know their Twinkie issue!! Remembering we are all different, unique individuals not cut from the same cloth. Accepting people for who they are and understanding they have issues too and letting it all go. Then make the healthy choice to love those for where they are right now, at this moment.
Don't get me wrong, there will be people in your life who no longer serve you; perhaps those you don't spiritually trust. You can still love them, but from a distance! You get their story and they get yours. Maybe not. But it doesn't matter. These are people who are no longer a part of your 'tribe'. Plain and simple. So send them off with love and pray for them. And if necessary, do the work to forgive them so you can forgive yourself. But accept who they are and no longer judge them.
Make the investment in you to diminish your personal 'Twinkies'! Once you choose to come from a place of kindness and acceptance, judging will be a thing of the past!
And btw, I know Twinkies aren't healthy. But scroll back up and look at that picture...YUM!
I could totally eat a package as I type this!
Thanks for sharing this post with others!
Peace and Blessings!
Celeste
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